Police Investigate Peter Mandelson Over Alleged Epstein Leak

Published: 04 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

The Metropolitan Police has launched a formal criminal investigation into Lord Peter Mandelson following serious allegations that he leaked sensitive government information to the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a senior cabinet minister during the global financial crisis. The inquiry, confirmed on Tuesday, centres on claims of misconduct in public office and has sent shockwaves through Westminster, reopening uncomfortable questions about political accountability, transparency, and past associations with Epstein.

The investigation follows the release of millions of pages of court documents by the United States Department of Justice, which include emails that appear to show Lord Mandelson sharing market-sensitive information with Epstein in 2009, when Mandelson was business secretary in Gordon Brown’s Labour government. Epstein, who later died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, had already been convicted of sex offences in the United States by that time and was widely regarded as a deeply controversial figure.

According to the Metropolitan Police, the inquiry was triggered by a number of referrals, including one from the UK government itself. Commander Ella Marriott, speaking on behalf of Scotland Yard, said officers were now investigating a 72-year-old former government minister for alleged misconduct in public office. While she declined to comment further on the specifics, citing the active nature of the investigation, her statement confirmed the seriousness with which the allegations are being treated.

The emails in question, first highlighted following the DoJ document release, appear to show Mandelson forwarding information related to government thinking during the 2008–09 financial crash, a period of extreme market volatility and political sensitivity. A Downing Street spokesperson said an initial review of the documents suggested they contained “likely market sensitive information” connected to the banking collapse and the sale of distressed assets. Such information, if disclosed improperly, could potentially have been exploited for financial advantage.

Lord Mandelson has not publicly commented since the investigation was announced, but the BBC understands his position is that he has not acted criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain. He has consistently denied wrongdoing in relation to his past contacts with Epstein. Nonetheless, the political consequences have been swift. Mandelson, who was dismissed as the UK’s ambassador to the United States last year, has informed parliamentary authorities that he intends to resign from the House of Lords on Wednesday.

The matter has also reignited tensions across the political spectrum. On Monday, both the Scottish National Party and Reform UK confirmed that they had formally reported Lord Mandelson to the Metropolitan Police. By Tuesday, the UK government announced it had also referred relevant material to the authorities after assessing the newly released documents.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown, under whose leadership Mandelson served as business secretary, has taken the unusual step of writing directly to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley. Brown said he had shared “relevant” information with the police, including a letter he sent to the cabinet secretary in September requesting an investigation into the authenticity and implications of the Epstein-related correspondence.

In a strongly worded statement, Brown described the alleged emails as an “inexcusable and unpatriotic act” if proven true, particularly given the context in which they were sent. He stressed that during the height of the global financial crisis, the government was working under immense pressure to stabilise the economy, protect jobs, and restore confidence in the banking system. Any unauthorised disclosure of sensitive information at such a time, he said, would represent a grave breach of trust.

The allegations have once again cast a harsh light on the extent of Epstein’s connections with political and business elites on both sides of the Atlantic. Epstein, despite his criminal conviction, maintained relationships with powerful figures for years, raising longstanding questions about how he was able to retain influence and access. While the current investigation is focused narrowly on Mandelson’s conduct, it forms part of a broader reckoning with Epstein’s network and the failures of institutions to properly scrutinise those who associated with him.

Legal experts note that misconduct in public office is a serious common law offence in England and Wales, carrying the potential for a prison sentence if proven. To secure a conviction, prosecutors would need to show that a public officer wilfully neglected to perform their duty or wilfully misconducted themselves to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust. The threshold is high, but successful prosecutions are not unheard of.

The government has sought to emphasise its cooperation with the investigation. A spokesperson said ministers stood ready to provide “whatever support and assistance the police need” as inquiries continue. Downing Street has also been keen to stress that the referral of material to the Met demonstrates a commitment to transparency and the rule of law, regardless of the seniority of the individual involved.

Public reaction has been mixed but intense, with many expressing anger at the possibility that sensitive economic information could have been shared with a private individual during one of the most precarious moments in modern British economic history. Others have urged caution, emphasising that the investigation is at an early stage and that Lord Mandelson is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

For Mandelson himself, once one of the most influential figures in New Labour and a key architect of the party’s electoral successes, the investigation marks a dramatic and potentially final chapter in a long and controversial career. Known as a skilled political operator, he served in multiple cabinet roles and played a central part in shaping Britain’s relationship with the European Union and the United States.

As the Metropolitan Police continue to assess the vast volume of material emerging from the Epstein document releases, further developments are expected. For now, the focus remains on establishing the facts: whether sensitive information was shared, whether it was improper, and whether it crossed the legal threshold into criminal misconduct.

The outcome of the investigation could have far-reaching implications, not only for Lord Mandelson’s legacy but also for public trust in political institutions. At a time when confidence in governance is already strained, the case underscores the enduring importance of accountability, even years after the events in question.